This Healthy Tomato Basil Soup has a thick, creamy texture and deep, rich flavor. A fast and easy recipe that only takes 25 minutes (or less) to make.
It is one of the best soups you can make at home with pantry ingredients.
🍅Ingredients
Tomatoes—crushed
Evaporated milk—fat-free
Basil—fresh or dry
Pantry ingredients—garlic powder, onion powder, baking soda, sugar (optional), salt, and pepper
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Featured Comment from Carol: "Wow, so easy and so good!"
It's light years ahead of that watered-down can of soup. And the fresh basil leaves option adds an exceptional taste.
Call it tomato soup, creamy tomato soup, or tomato bisque since there is diary. It is naturally gluten-free, and you can make it dairy-free and vegetarian by changing the milk to vegetable broth.
A healthy soup that fits a healthy diet like a low-calorie or low-fat diet —with only 133 calories and 1 gram of fat. It is relatively low in sodium, and you can decrease it by about 200mg per serving by skipping the salt to fit almost any low-sodium diet.
👨🍳How to Make Healthy Tomato Basil Soup
Notice both fresh and dry basil in the picture. It is one or the other.
If using fresh basil, prep 5 medium basil leaves by pinching off the stem, forming a stack with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top. Roll from the stem end into a small "cigar." Cut into narrow ribbons by pulling the knife through the basil and not crushing it.
Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes to a large, non-reactive saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of dry basil or the prepared fresh basil, ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Also, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Add 12 oz can of fat-free evaporated milk—taste test for sweetness. Add ¼ teaspoon or more sugar if desired. You may also use cream, half and half, milk, or chicken or vegetable broth.
Simmer for 5 minutes more and serve.
For more details, keep reading. See the Recipe Card below for complete instructions and to print.
✔️Tips and Options to get it right every time
- Instead of crushed tomatoes, you may also use whole or diced canned tomatoes. You will need to blend with an immersion blender if you do.
- The non-fat evaporated milk may be replaced with cream, half-and-half, milk, chicken stock, or broth — your choices will affect the final nutritional analysis.
- It is already gluten-free. You can make it completely vegetarian and dairy-free using vegetable stock or broth instead of milk.
- It is already relatively low in sodium, and you can decrease it by about 200mg per serving by skipping the salt. Baking soda, which helps balance the acid, provides enough sodium.
Serving
Serve with Low Calorie Biscuits to stay on the healthy theme or Stand Mixer Bread—Basic White for standard homemade bread.
Other easy homemade soup recipes
Check out other easy soup recipes like Broccoli Cheese Soup, Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup, Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup, and Crock Pot French Onion Soup. And check out more options at Our Best Soups.
🍽️Serving and Storage
Serve with nice crusty bread, or the classic is a grilled cheese sandwich.
Store in an airtight container, then refrigerate for 3-4 days. It can also be frozen for 3-4 months.
❓FAQ
Yes, in many ways, it is an excellent source of antioxidants and some vitamins. My version is also very low in fat and calories to fit almost any healthy diet.
It can fit a low-sodium diet, especially if you skip the added salt, which will drop the sodium per serving from a little less than 600 to less than 400.
The baking soda may seem odd to you. But it will neutralize the acid in the tomato, so it tastes less acidic, and the acid won't curdle the milk in the soup — both good things.
Since tomatoes are a natural product, they vary by ripeness and variety. A touch of sugar may be needed depending on your taste. Start at about ¼ teaspoon.
Foods like tomatoes, lemon products, vinegar, and many more are acidic. Reactive cookware will react with acidic foods cooked in them, leaving a metallic taste in the food. It will also damage the reactive cookware.
Examples of reactive cookware would be aluminum, iron, and copper. I love cast iron, but it's not a good choice for tomatoes or other acidic ingredients.
Examples of non-reactive cookware are stainless steel, enamel, ceramic, glass, and non-stick cookware—the obvious choice for simmering things with acidic components.
This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.
Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.
📖 Recipe
Healthy Tomato Basil Soup—Quick and Easy
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Ingredients
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes - one large can
- 12 oz Fat free evaporated milk
- 1 teaspoon dry basil - or 5 leaves fresh
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- sugar - optional if needed
Instructions
- If using fresh basil, prep 5 medium leaves of basil by pinching off the stem, forming a stack with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on top. Roll from the stem end into a small "cigar." Cut into narrow ribbons by pulling the knife through the basil and not crushing it.
- Add 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes to a large non-reactive saucepan. Add 1 teaspoon of dry basil or the prepared fresh basil, ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and pepper. Also, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add 12 oz can of fat-free evaporated milk—taste test for sweetness. Add ¼ teaspoon or more sugar if desired. You may also use cream, half and half, milk, or chicken or vegetable broth.
- Simmer for 5 minutes more and serve.
Recipe Notes
Pro Tips
- The tomatoes are key to this recipe. Use a brand you love. Do not use cheap generic tomatoes.
- I used crushed tomatoes but whole or diced can be used but you will need an immersion blender.
- The fresh basil is worth the trouble here, but a good dried basil will be fine.
- I suggest the non-fat evaporated milk, but you can use heavy cream, half and half, milk, chicken broth, or vegetable broth.
- Testing for sweetness is necessary due to tomato variations.
- Good refrigerated for up to 4 days. Should freeze well for 3-4 months.
- The baking soda is somewhat the "secret ingredient". It will neutralize the acid in the tomato, so it tastes less acidic, and prevent the curdling of milk products in the soup.
Your Own Private Notes
To adjust the recipe size:
You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.
Nutrition Estimate
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Originally Published January 13, 2019. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.
Jerri says
Made this soup last night and I just had my first bowl for lunch. Very nice, mild flavor. I only had an 8 oz carton of heavy cream so I used that. Maybe a little thicker than your recipe but it tastes good. Just curious if you know what it is that gives old fashioned canned tomato soup the tangy flavor?
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Jerri,
In my memory (since it has been years), the tang I remember was metallic from the can it seems. I don't remember another tangy flavor. That is probably not what you are talking about.
Dan
Sue says
Dr Dan,
Anxious to make this recipe. What are your thoughts on using Rotel with the green chilies in place of crushed or regular tomatoes? Just curious if it would ruin the recipe. Looking forward to your comments. Thanks. Love your recipes!!
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Sue,
Welcome to the blog.
I really don't see the taste combo of RoTel as a good match here. I do a fair amount of RoTel cooking (see the tortilla soup from two days ago). I see it more as a Mexican/Southwest/chili taste. The heat just doesn't match here. Now, some green chilis... maybe.
Dan
Cathleen says
Thank you for the recipe. When you eat a processed food that you bought you don't think that there really is a recipe at the base of the product. I think that this recipe is nearly as quick as heating a can of soup and yet without the added chemicals.
This year my goal is to learn how to make many of the products that I have been eating and buying for years - like spice packets, mixes etc - in a more healthful way at home.
Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says
Hi Cathleen,
Welcome to the blog.
I'm not a fan of cooking with chemicals so I try to avoid cans of soups or mixes. It is not always practical. I do know the chemicals and I'm not afraid of them (mostly they are benign fillers or preservatives) but I want the real taste.
Thanks for the note and rating.
Dan
Jane says
I never realized I could make my own tomato soup. Thank you, it was delicious.
DrDan says
Hi Jane,
Welcome to the blog.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Thanks for the note.
Dan
Cathleen says
Yes, how exciting!!
Linda Lee says
Thank you for sending the link! Looks delicious. I am sorry I must have missed this "blog". I will be making this soon. With our cold spell this week it should be perfect to warm up with. I found the note of adding baking soda interesting and quite informative as well.
Carol says
Wow, so easy and so good! My only adjustments for my personal taste were using twice the amount of basil and slightly more garlic and onion powder, and my on hand evaporated milk was regular I think.
Thank you so much for this easy recipe and more importantly, the inspiration.
DrDan says
Hi Carol,
Welcome to the blog.
A recipe is just guidelines and exists for modifications. Yours sounds great.
Thanks for the note.
Dan